FINCRA TECHNOLOGIES ACCELERATES PAN-AFRICAN EXPANSION WITH GHANA LICENCE, CANADA APPROVAL AND CONTINENT-WIDE AMBITIONS

FINCRA TECHNOLOGIES ACCELERATES PAN-AFRICAN EXPANSION WITH GHANA LICENCE, CANADA APPROVAL AND CONTINENT-WIDE AMBITIONS

Nigerian payments infrastructure firm cements its position as a major force in Africa's cross-border payments market

By Tessy Brown | Lagos, June 1, 2026

In what industry observers are describing as a series of significant regulatory milestones, Fincra Technologies — the Nigerian payments infrastructure company quietly building some of Africa's most critical financial rails — has secured a string of licences across multiple continents in the space of just a few months, signalling an ambitious expansion strategy that places it at the heart of Africa's booming digital payments landscape.

TRITEK SUMMIT RAISES CONCERNS OVER AFRICA'S DIGITAL SKILLS GAP EMPLOYABILITY

TRITEK SUMMIT RAISES CONCERNS OVER AFRICA'S DIGITAL SKILLS GAP EMPLOYABILITY

EdTech leaders, industry experts converge in Lagos to confront a widening crisis between classroom training and workplace readiness

A high-profile gathering of educators, technology founders, and industry professionals has sounded a loud alarm over a deepening employability crisis across Africa, warning that the continent's rapidly growing edtech sector may be producing graduates who are ill-equipped for the jobs that actually exist or that will exist in the near future.

Olori Ashley Ogunwusi, Dr. Shola Cole, Others to Receive Leadership Excellence Awards at Historic African Women's Summit in Kenya

Olori Ashley Ogunwusi, Dr. Shola Cole, Others to Receive Leadership Excellence Awards at Historic African Women's Summit in Kenya

Her Majesty, Olori Ashley Ogunwusi 

Olori Ashley Folashade Ogunwusi, Queen of the Ooni of Ife and founder of the Ashley Adegoke Foundation, is among a select group of distinguished African women set to be honoured at the maiden edition of the Voice of Africa Leadership Summit (VOALS), scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya, this August.

The royal philanthropist, who has earned recognition for her humanitarian work through the Ashley Adegoke Foundation — an NGO dedicated to supporting underprivileged children and widows — will receive an award of excellence in leadership alongside other trailblazing women who have made their mark across various fields.

Also to be honoured is Tech Queen Dr. Adeshola Cole, CEO and founder of the UK-based Tritek Consulting Limited, an award-winning EdTech organisation that has helped over 5,000 individuals transition into technology careers, and Mrs. Foluke Adedokun a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur, certified fruit stylist, and the Chief Executive Officer of FruitieWorld, a leading healthy lifestyle brand in Nigeria. Popularly recognized within the entertainment and corporate event space as "The Fruitie Queen," she is celebrated for pioneering high-end fruit artistry and catering to elite clients across West Africa, among others.

The awards will be presented at the leadership conference holding on August 27 under the theme "Leadership Renaissance" at Emara Ole Sereni, Nairobi — the centrepiece of a week-long summit running from August 24 to 29, 2026.

VOALS is inspired and convened by Dr. Yetty Folami, a US-based pharmacist, pastor, leadership coach, and healthcare executive, who describes it as a God-inspired project dedicated to fostering authentic influence, confidence, and transformative leadership among women across the African continent.

Organisers say the summit is designed to deliver clarity, articulation, and activation for participants, helping them identify personal and professional needs while equipping them to overcome persistent barriers in leadership. Key focus areas include tackling gender bias, underrecognition despite proven competence, navigating workplace politics, and strategies for personal and professional growth.

The event targets between 200 and 250 participants — women in senior and mid-level leadership positions, entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals across healthcare, finance, education, technology, governance, NGOs, and faith-based organisations.

Confirmed speakers include Bola Matel-Okoh, executive coach and founder of Women's Lifestyle Hub; Dr. Wale Akinyemi, organisational culture and leadership consultant; and Lillian Ngala, leadership coach and founder of the Lillian Ngala Network. Others are Titi Ikhile, Nellie Kinyanjui, and Oladoyin Taiwo. The event will be anchored by Dr. Tiffany Oloke.

The summit's programme is packed across several days. Tuesday, August 25 features a specialised leadership training session at the University of Nairobi themed "Leadership Beyond the Counter", targeting pharmacy and medical students, alongside a mental wellness session. Wednesday, August 26 hosts a welcome dinner and networking event in partnership with "The Women in Business" network in Kenya, focusing on emerging business opportunities.

Friday, August 28 is dedicated to a community outreach programme supporting underserved women who have experienced abuse, while Saturday, August 29 offers participants a sightseeing tour of Nairobi's key locations.

A series of preparatory webinars began in March 2026, with another session coming up this May ahead of the August gathering.

VOALS positions itself as more than a one-time event, it is a movement to ensure African women's leadership is strengthened and their voices help rewrite the continent's story, with plans to rotate across different African regions in future years.

Women leaders interested in attending, or needing assistance with visas and travel arrangements, may contact organisers at info@voals.org or visit voals.org/voals2026.

Ikeja Electric Takes Electricity Safety Campaign to Lagos Schools

Ikeja Electric Takes Electricity Safety Campaign to Lagos Schools

Ikeja Electric Plc has carried its electricity safety message into classrooms in the Bariga area of Lagos, using this year's Children's Day to launch an educational outreach targeting pupils in public primary schools within its franchise network.

POWER FAILURE: NIGERIA CANCELS $717.7M WORLD BANK ELECTRICITY LOAN AS REFORMS COLLAPSE

POWER FAILURE: NIGERIA CANCELS $717.7M WORLD BANK ELECTRICITY LOAN AS REFORMS COLLAPSE

In a development that lays bare the deepening crisis in Nigeria's electricity sector, the Federal Government has cancelled $717.7 million in undisbursed World Bank funding meant to rescue the country's struggling power industry even as it simultaneously seeks a fresh $1.25 billion loan from the same institution.

MISSED WINDOW: KENYA AIRWAYS PROMO ENDS, VOALS DELEGATES HOPE FOR FRESH DEAL AHEAD OF SUMMIT

A flash promotional offer by Kenya Airways that offered Nigerian travellers significant discounts on flights to Nairobi came to a close on Tuesday, leaving many who had been planning trips to Kenya particularly those eyeing the landmark Voice of Africa Leadership Summit (VOALS) in August hoping for a another opportunity.

The airline's special deal which reduced the Lagos - Nairobi route by more than half the price lasted for just one day, May 25, 2026. The promo was run in partnership with MASTERCARD.

President Tinubu Pushes for Airbus Maintenance Hub in Nigeria, Demands Swift Delivery of Apache Attack Helicopters

President Tinubu Pushes for Airbus Maintenance Hub in Nigeria, Demands Swift Delivery of Apache Attack Helicopters

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed a major proposal by global aviation giant Airbus to establish aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria, as part of a broader strategy to transform the country into a leading aerospace and aviation services hub in Africa.

Kenya Set to Welcome Historic Gathering of African Women in Leadership

Kenya Set to Welcome Historic Gathering of African Women in Leadership

Dr. Yetty Folami, convener, VOALS

A new initiative aimed at amplifying the voices and leadership potential of African women is set to make its debut this year with the maiden edition of the Voice of Africa Leadership Summit (VOALS) in Nairobi, Kenya, this August.

Inspired and convened by Dr. Yetty Folami, a US-based pharmacist, pastor, leadership coach, and healthcare executive, VOALS is described as a God-inspired project dedicated to fostering authentic influence, confidence, and transformative leadership among women across the African continent.

The week-long event is scheduled from August 24 to 29, 2026, with the centrepiece, a full-day leadership conference holding on August 27 under the theme "Leadership Renaissance" at Emara Ole Sereni, Nairobi.

Over 30 African Leaders Gather in Nairobi for Landmark Africa Forward Summit

Over 30 African Leaders Gather in Nairobi for Landmark Africa Forward Summit

Nairobi, Kenya — May 12, 2026 

More than 30 African heads of state and government have converged on the Kenyan capital for the inaugural Africa Forward Summit, a high-level diplomatic and economic forum co-hosted by President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron.

FG Prohibits Use of ‘Dr’ Title by Honorary Degree Holders

The Federal Government has banned recipients of honorary degrees from using the prefix “Dr” before their names, describing the practice as misleading and a form of academic fraud.

The new directive, which takes immediate effect, aims to restore credibility to academic titles and prevent the continued abuse of honorary degrees across the country.

Mosan-Okunola LCDA to Launch Readers’ Clubs to Boost Literacy Standards

Mosan-Okunola LCDA to Launch Readers’ Clubs to Boost Literacy Standards

ALIMOSHO – In a strategic move to revamp the educational landscape of Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the council has announced plans to introduce structured Readers’ Clubs across all public primary and junior secondary schools.

The initiative was unveiled by the Vice Chairman of the LCDA, Hon. Akintola Falade, during a high-level familiarization meeting with the council’s Education Department. The meeting followed his formal presentation as the Supervisor for Education by the Council Chairman, Hon. Akindele Adunni Opeyemi.

The Council Chairman, Hon. Akindele, expressed absolute confidence in Falade’s appointment, describing him as a leader with the experience and exposure necessary to meet her administration’s rigorous standards. She stated that education is a priority for her office and charged the education team to innovate, carry out feasibility studies, and make public schools in Mosan-Okunola LCDA the envy of others.

Speaking on the motivation behind the Readers’ Club, Hon. Falade noted that while the council invests heavily in education—including the distribution of GCE forms—the academic returns have not always matched the investment. He specifically pointed to the long-standing Spelling Bee competition as a catalyst for this new direction, noting that the basis of that competition is reading skills. He emphasized the need to deliberately encourage reading at the foundational level to achieve the success rates desired in the community.

The council aims to have a visible presence in all public schools by the end of the second quarter. The initiative is scheduled to kick off by the end of May, with each club operating as a formally registered entity within the schools. Headteachers and English language teachers will be central to the operations, leading weekly interactive sessions to guide students on effective reading habits and literacy.

While the initial focus remains on the public sector, Hon. Falade hinted that the council is exploring ways to include private schools in the future. He concluded by underscoring the administration's commitment to improving the reading culture across the entire LCDA to ensure every child has the tools to succeed academically.